Well drill



BfA/JAM FSC/#m05 TTQRNEYS.

2 Sheets-Shee't l B. F. scHMm'r WELL DRILL Filed July l1, 1922 Dec. 29, 1925u 0 Z ,a d

Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. SCHMIDT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO KING C. GILLET'IE AND ONE-FOURTH TO'KING G. GILLETTE, BOTH OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

WELL DRILL.

Application filed July 11, 1922.

T0 all whom t may concern.

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. SCHMIDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Well Drills, of which the following is a lspecification.

Q My invention relates to electrical reciprocating apparatus and relates particularly to a recipiocating tool for drilling wells.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device, which may be suspended in a hole by a cable or other suitable means, having a vertical member to which a cutter may be attached. this vertical member being capable of reciprocation by solenoids energized by current supplied from a generator' located at the surface.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved means for rotating the reciprocating member at each reciprocation thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a means whereby the frequency of the reciprocations may be varied by the operator to suit the formations encountered.

It is a further object to control the tenure of energization of the solenoids in order that the force applied during either the up or down strokes may be varied to suit existing conditions.

It is a further object to provide a means for indicating to the operator when the cutting tool has cut to the full capacity of the stroke permitted by the length of the reciprocating member to which the tool is attached, and which will indicate When the tool is resting upon the bottom of the hole so that the movement of the reciprocating member is prevented.

i Itis also an object to vary the force with which the reciprocating member is operated either upwardly or downwardly by the provision of suitable resistors which may be placed in circuit with the solenoids, thus f varying the strength of current delivered thereto. It is a further object to provide an attach- Elf/ment whereby the drilling device may be adapted to increased diameter and the alinement of the hole being drilled at SuCll ii1- creased diameter preserved.

Serial No. 574,305.

It 'is a further object of the invention to provide an improved form of reciprocating member integrally formed from a single bar of'magnetic metal but having the central portion thereof more susceptible to magnetic influence than the ends.

It is also an object to provide a means for equilibrating the pressure exerted by an internal body of liquid Withwhatever pressure exists upon the exterior of the device, thus eliminating strains in the structure of the device due to external pressure.

It is also an object of the invenion to provide an arrangement whereby the ends of the reciprocating member extend entirely through solenoids and are exposed to the external pressure, these ends operating through stuling boxes provided at each end of the arrangement of solenoids for the purpose of preventing the entrance of foreign matter and abrasive substances into the channel provided within the solenoids for the passage of the reciprocating member.

The specific advantages of my invention and the objects thereof will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a drilling tool embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken upon plane represented by the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a section taken upon plane represented by the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a section taken upon a plane represented by the line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the rotating and upward stroke limiting member shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the manner in Which my invention is employed in drilling wells.

Fig. 7 is a view of the frequency regulating vdevice I employ.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the electrical elements of the invention.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view showing the frequency regulator mounted above the motor and generator employed for driving the drilling tool.

Fig. l0 is a vertical longitudinal section through a preferred form of distributor for l ing the use of the distributor, shown in Fig.

10, in combination with the means I employ for varying the strength of current to the separate solenoids, consisting of suitable resistors placed in circuit therewith.

The device shown in Fig. 1 consists of a shell 11 comprised of several tubular sections 12 and 13 joined by an internal coupling 14 and having a. clevis 15 for their support. In the lower end of the shell 11 is placed a block 17 which supports a screw cap 18 and provides therewith a stutling box 19 through which the lower end 20 of a reciprocating member 21 passes. Directly above the block 17 are installed a down solenoid 23 and an up solenoid 24 which are adapted to be energized by current delivered through a cable 25 and to attract the central portion 26 of a reciprocating core member 21 either upwardly or downwardly, thus providing a reciprocation of the reciprocable member. Above the solenoid 24 a block 30 is mounted within the shell 11, this block providing a stuffing box 31 through which the upper end 32 of the reciprocating member 21 passes.

Upon the upper end of the member 21 a head 33 is mounted having an upwardly disposed bevel 34 and a downwardly disposed bevel 35. The upper bevel 34 is adapted to be received in an internal cone 36 provided upon the lower end of upward stroke limiting member 37. Engagement between the conical surfaces 34 and 36 of the head 33 and the member 37 provides a. friction clutch which accomplishes the turning of the reciprocating member at the end of each upward stroke. This turningis accomplished in the following manner: The meniber 37 extends through a block 39 and is provided with opposing and diagonally disposed Channels 40 through which a pin 41 extends. It will be perceived that whenever the member 37 is forced upwardly it is part ly rotated by the engagement of the slots 40 with the pin 41, and that as the member 37 is allowed to recede to its original position an opposite direction of rotation thereof is accomplished. Near the ond of each upward stroke of the reciprocatingr member the head 33 engages the member 37 and forces it upwardly, primarily against the action of the spring 44, and then against the action of a centrally placed spring 45. During this upward movement of the member 37 the reciprocating member is rotated, due to the action of the clutch provided by the cones 34 and 36, and it is also being brought to stop by the action of the springs 44 and 45. A spring 47 is provided to receive the downward force of the reciprocating member when the device is .lifted so that the tool 48, indicated in Fig. 6, is not acting upon the bottom of the hole 49 being drilled.

Arod 50 vertically disposed within the shell l1 is shown as provided with arms 51 and 52 which are adapted to be engaged whenever the reciprocating member travels beyond the limits of travel designated for ordinary drilling operations. In other words, when the cutter is not operating against the bottom of the hole 49, the entire force of the downward stroke of the reciprocating member is placed upon the spring 47 and the head 33 travels into the position indicated by the dotted lines 53. The end 54 of the arm 51 thereupon rides outwardly upon the surface 35 and causes the rotation of the bar 50 which in turn causes an arm 55 mounted upon the lower end of the bar 50 to operate a switch 56, which closes an electrical circuit with a sensible means located at the surface and indicates to the operator that the cutter is not operating against the bottom of the hole, as will be hereinafter described. In event that the device is lowered too deep into the well so that the weight thereof must be sustained upon the bottom of the hole the head 33 forces the member 37 upwardly in to its extreme position against the action of the springs 44 and 45 and the arm 52 mounts the incline 59 provided upon the member 37 and likewise rotates the bar 50 and causes the closing of the switch 56 by the arm 55.

In the operation of my device I employ, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 a direct current motor 66 and a generator 61 which are direct connected by a coupling 62. The motor is supplied with current through a circuit 63 having' a switch 64 therein. From one terminal of the generator a conductoi' 66 connects with the contact plate 67 of a distributor 68 which is mounted upon the niotor and generator as shown in Fig. 9. A second lead 69 is taken from the opposite terminal of the generator and forms a common conductor for both of the solenoids 23 and 24 and is also grounded with one leaf 70 of the switch 56 as indicated in the diagram by the conductor 71. The contact plate 67 is mounted upon the end of a shaft 7 5 having a wheel 76 thereupon cngageablc with a revolvablc plate 77 adapted to bc driven from the motor shaft through a worm and wheel 78. The distributor 68 is slidably mounted upon a supporting plate 8O and may be moved with the shaft 75 be tween the position shown and the position indicated by the dotted lines 81, and in which it is shown in Fig. 7, by the operation of a lever 82 provided with a yoke 83 which, makes engagement with a spool 84 mounted upon the end of the shaft 45. The distributor 68 is provided with a pair of contacts 85 which are alternately engaged by the plate 67 as it revolves, thus alternately energizing the solenoids 23 and 24, and causing the reciprocation of the memb-er 21. rEhe leaf 89 which cooperates with leaf 70 in forming the switch 56 is connected by a conductor 90 to a bell 91 and a light 92 whichiare also in contact with the conductor 66. Whenever the reciprocating member assumes an abnormal position at either end of its reciprocation and the bar 50 causes the arm 55 to engage the switch 56 as hereinbefore described, the leaf 7 0 is forced against the leaf 89 by the lever and the circuit including the bell 91 and the light 02 is energized; and being so energized the light and bell constitute a sensible indication by which the operator is notified of the incorrect position oli the drilling' device within the well.

'the manner in which l. construct the reciprocating member consists of forming holes 95 in the ends thereof and leaving the central portion 26 solid so that the major portion of the material constituting the reciprocating member is confined to the one central position and being thus composed of a major mass of metal is influenced by the magnetic lines of force produced by the splenoids and is thus reciproeated, the amount of metal disposed in the tubular ends 20 and 32 thereof not being suiiicient to interfere with the attraction of the central portion 26.

A quantity of oil is placed within the upper tubular end 32 of the reciprocating member and a tioat plug 98 is placed upon the body of oil to separate it from the mud which enters the top of the tubular member when the device is being operated within a well. A hole drilled into the end 32 provides a duct forthe passage of oil into the interior chamber formed between the stuffing boxes 19 and 3 As the device is lowered into the water contained in a well being drilled, the pressure of this water is eX- erted upon the plug 98 and is transferred thereupon through the body of oil within the tubular end 32 and the duct 100 to the eil contained upon the interior as previously described, thus bringing the internal pressure into equilibrium with whatever' external pressure is being exerted.

l have found it to be desirable to vary the proportions between the periods through which the solcnoids d3 and 24 are energized in order that the upward pull upon each reciprocating member may be exerted for a greater length of time than the downward pull thereupon. ln Fig. 8 the distributor is shown provided with a contact plate of semi-circular form, thus giving the solenoi'cls equal periods of energizing. The distributor 101 shown in Fig. 10 is, provided with a central Contact .102 to which the lead 103 in Fig. 12 is attached. Mounted in slots 104 in the cover plate 105 of the distributor 101 are contacts 106 and 107 which are connected together by a non-conductive bridge 108 and have conductors 110 and 111 leading therefrom to rheostats 112 and 113. The contact plate 115 is given the form shown in Fig. 11.

When the contacts 106 and 107 are in the positions shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the contact 106 will assume the path 116 across the plate 115 and the contact- 107 will follow the path 118. It will be perceived that the path 116 constitutes an arc of substantially three quarters of the revolution of the distributing head 120 and that the path 118 represents a quarter revolution. It then follows that as the head 120 is revolved, the plate 115 will be in contact with the contact 106 during three-quarters of the revolution and in contact with the contact 107 during the remaining quarter of its revolution. Therefore the tenure of energization assumes a proportion of three to one.

By moving` either of the contacts up'- wardly in its slot 104, the other contact is moved therewith bv virtue of the crosscounecting bridge 108; thus, as the contact 10T moves inwardly towards the center of rotation, the contact 106 will move correspondingly outwardly. The plate 115 is s0 designed that by arranging the contacts 106 and 107 equally upon each side of the center` an equal tenure of energization may be accomplished, or by adjusting the contacts at intermediate points any desired tenure of contacts may be attained.

The wiring as indicated by diagram Fig. 12 is substantially the same as that employed in the diagram Fig. 8 except for the employment of the distributor 101 and the institution of the rheostats 112 and 113 by which the strength of the current delivered to the solenoids 23 and 24 may be varied to give the desired force to either the upward or downward stroke of the reciprocating member 21.

In Fig. 6 I show the drilling tool at 130 with a tubular adapter member 131 mounted thereon by means of hubs 132 to enable the use of the device in a large size casing 135. lVit-hout the employment of the adapter 131 it would be difficult to preserve the alinement of the hole, but with the use of this member a practical alinement may be preserved due to the guiding action attained between the interior of the casing 135 and the member 131.

The cable 140, by which the drilling tool is suspended. extends through a sleeve 141 which in turn passes through a stuiiing box 142 provided in a cap 143 mounted upon the top of the casing 135. A mud pump 145 is connected into the casing through the cap 143 by pipe 147 and forces the lubricating mixture down to the point at which the cuttingl is being carried on; this mixture being forced upwardly around the drive shoe 149, carries the cuttings into the fissures and also exerts a pressure which assists in supporting the walls of the hole. vWith this arrangement the collection of cuttings between the member 131 and the casing 135 is prevented, as such cuttings are carried away between the exterior of the casing and the hole. v10

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a tubular shell adapted to be suspended within a well; a reciproca-ble core member extending within said shell and comprising a solid central portion having integrally formed tubular ends extending therefrom; solenoids adapted to reciprocate said reciprocable member by attracting said central portion thereof; a stuffing box at each end of the arrangement of said solenoids, through which said reciprocable member may operate; a head upon the upper end of said reciprocable member; a spring adapted to engage said head at the downward stroke thereof; a resiliently supported member adapted to recede when engaged by said head near the end of its upward stroke; means for partly rotating said resilientlv supported member, and thereby said reciprocable member, during the mentioned engagement therebetween; a rod extending parallel to said reciprocable member and having means thereupon adapted to be engaged when said head is near an extreme position; a switch adapted to be closed bv said rod when so engaged; an electric sensible device; and means providing an electric circuit between said switch and said device.

2. In a device of the class described; the combination of: a tubular shell adapted to be suspended within a well; a reciprocable core member extending within said shell and comprising a solid central portion having integrally formed tubular ends extending therefrom, the upper of said tubular ends having an oil duct therein; solenoids adapted to reciprocate said reciprocable member by attracting said central portion thereof; a stuffing box at each end of the arrangen'ient of said solenoids7 through which said reciprocable member may operate; a head upon the upper end of said reciprocable member; a spring adapted to engage said head at the downward stroke thereo't; a resiliently supported member adapted to recede when engaged by said head near the end of its upward stroke; means for partly rotatingsaid resiliently supported member and thereby said reciprocable member; during the mentioned engagement therebetween: a rod extending parallel to said reciprocable member and having means thereupon adapted to be engaged when said head is near either of two extreme positions; a switch adapted to be closed by said rod when so engaged; an electric sensible device; means providing an electric circuit between said switch and said device; and a body of oil in said upper tubular end subject to the pressure upon the exterior of said device.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a tubular shell adapted to be suspended within a well; a reciprocable core member extending within said shell; solenoids adapted to reciprocate said reciprocable member by attracting the central portion thereof; a stufling box at each end of the arrangement of said solenoids, through which said reciprocable member may operate; a head upon the upper end of said reciprocable member; a spring adapted to engage said head at the downward stroke thereof; a resiliently supported member adapted to recede when engaged by said head near the end of its upward stroke; means for partly rotating said resiliently supported member, and thereby said reciprocable member7 during the mentioned engagen'ient therebetween; a rod extending parallel to said reciprocable member and having means thereupon adapted to be engaged when said head is near its extreme positions; a switch adapted to be closed by said rod when so engaged; an electric sensible device; and means providing an electric circuit between said switch and said device.

at. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a tubular shell adapted to be suspended within a well; a reciprocable core member extending within said shell and comprising a solid central portion having integrally formed tubular ends extending therefrom; solenoids adapted to reciprocate said reciprocable member by attracting said central portion thereof; a head upon the upper end of said reciprocable member; a spring adapted to engage said head at the downward stroke thereof; a resiliently supported member adapted to recede when engaged by said head near the end of its upward stroke; means for artlv Rotating said resiliently supported member, and thereby said reciprocable member, during the mentioned engagement therebetween; a rod extending parallel to said reciprocable member and having means thereupon adapted to be engaged when said head is near its extreme positions: a switch adapted to be closed by said rod when so engaged; an electric sensible device; and means providing an electric circuit between said switch and said device.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a tubular shell adapted to be suspended within a well; a reciprocable core member extending within said shell; solenoids adapted to reciprocate said reciprocable member by attracting the central portion thereof; a head upon the upper end of said reciprocable member; a spring adapted to engage said head at the downward stroke thereof; a resiliently supported member adapted to be engaged by said head near the end of i-ts upward stroke; means for partly rotating said resiliently mounted member, and thereby said reciprocable member during the mentioned engagement therebetween; a rod extending parallel to said reciprocable member and having means thereupon adapted to be engaged when s aid head is near its extreme positions; a switch adapted to be closed by said rod when e11- gaged by said head; an electric sensible device; and means providing an electric circuit between said switch and said device.

G. In a device of the classdescribcd, the combination of: a tubular shell adapted to be suspended within a well; a reciprocable ycore member extending Within said shell; solenoids adaped to reciprocate said reciprocable member by attracting the central portion thereof; a head upon the upper end of said reciprocable member; a spring adapted to engage said head at the downward stroke thereof; a resiliently supported member adapted to be engaged by said head near the end of its upward stroke; means for partly rotating said resiliently mounted member, and thereby said reciprocable member; a rod extending parallel to said reciprocable member and having means thereupon adapted to be engaged when said head is near its extreme positions; a switch adapted to be closed by said rod when engaged by said head; n electric sensible device; and means provi electric c'rn a i evice of the c ass escribed, the combination of: a tubular shell adapted to be suspended within a` well; a reciprocable core member extending within said'shell and comprising a solid central po-rtion having integrally formed tubular endsl extending therefrom; solenoids adapted to reciprocate said reciprocable member by attracting said central portion thereof; a stuffing box at each endo-f the arrangement of said solenoids, through which said reciprocable member may operate; a head upon the upper end of said reciprocable member; a spring adapted to engage said head at the downward stroke thereof; a resiliently supported member adapted to be engaged by said head near the end of its upward stroke; and means for partly rotating said supported member, and thereby said reciprocable member.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a tubular shell adapted to be suspended within a well; a recip-rocable core member extending within said shell; solenoids adapted 4to reciprocate said reciprocable member by attracting the central portion thereof; a head upon the upper end of said reciprocable member; a spring adapted to engage said head at the downward stroke thereof; a rotatably supported member adapted to be rotatably engaged by said head near the end of its upward stroke; and means for partly rotating said rotatably supported member and thereby said reciprocable member during their engagement.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a plurality of solenoids; means for energizing said solenoids; and a reciprocable core member extending through said solenoids and having a liquid reservoir therein, said reservoir being open at one end and having a. discharge port below said open end.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a plurality of solenoids; means for energizing said solenoids; a reciprocable core member extending through said solenoids and having a liquid reservoir in the upperI end thereof iin communication with the interior of said device, said reservoir being open to external pressure; and means for preventing the entrance of foreign substance into said reservoir.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a plurality of soleno-ids; means for energizing said solenoids; a reciprocable core member extending through said solenoids; an internally contained body of liquid; and means for equilibrating the pressure of said body of liquid with the pressure upon the exterior of said device.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a plurality of solenoids; means for energizing said solenoids; a reciprocable core member extending through said solenoids; a resiliently supported member adapted to stop said reciprocable member at the end of a stroke thereof, said resiliently supported member being adapted to partially rotate said reciprocable member.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a plurality of solenoids; means for energizing said solenoids; a reciprocable core member extending through said solenoids; and electrically operative sensible means for indicating the disposal of said reciprocable member in an abnormal position either too high or too low for efficient operation.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a plurality of solenoids; means for energizing said solenoids; a reciprocable core member extending through said solenoids; and separate rheostat means in each solenoid circuit for independently tempering the strength of current energizing said solenoids.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination of: a plurality of solenoids;

means for energizing said solenoids; a reciprooable core member extending through said solenoids; and means comprising a. pair of movable contacts spaced apart by a non- Conductive bridge for regulating the tenure of application of current to each o'll said solenoids.

16. In a device of the class described, the

combination of: a shell adapted to be suit- /f/ 10 ably suspended; a cutting tool supported indirectly from said shell; means Within said shell for operating said tool; and a tubular member adapted to be removably placed over the shell for increasing the effective diameter of said shell.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 5th day of July, 1922.

BENJAMIN F. SCHMIDT. 

